Taking a Dive Into Maritime History

Question: I bought a diver’s helmet from an antique shop. It appears to be a good number of years old. Who could help me research its history?--F.E.

Answer: Leon Lyons of St. Augustine, Fla., has put together a formidable collection of diving helmets that will form the centerpiece for a new maritime museum he expects to open in the historic Florida city in a few weeks.

He said that more than 200 valuable copper and brass helmets, manufactured here and abroad and dating from about 1850 to the present, will go on display at the Lyons Maritime Museum, located in a building constructed some three decades ago and modeled after a 17th-Century Spanish structure.

“I found them in salvage yards, boat yards and antique shops,” said the 48-year-old collector in a recent telephone interview. “I left them in their original condition. I started collecting diving helmets 15 years ago. I feel comfortable saying it’s the largest collection of its kind in the world.”

Researching the history of diving helmets is difficult, he said.

“There’s very little (authentic information) you can find,” he said. “When it comes to some companies, you can’t even find their catalogues anymore.”

In addition, Lyons will have on display approximately 50 divers’ knives, which he also characterizes as rare.

Lyons has written a book on the subject--”the only book,” he says--”Helmets of the Deep” (370 pages; 800 color photos; limited edition of 900 copies, $305; leather edition of 100 copies, $505). The book is available in English, French and German.

“The exquisite color photographs capture the reader’s attention,” says collectible publisher Ada L. Fitzsimmons in a review of Lyons’ book in the Spring edition of Paper Pile Quarterly (Box 337, San Anselmo, Calif. 94960).

“One is forced to read the accompanying text and is lulled into a maritime fantasy,” she wrote. “This is a visual history of the diving helmet.”

Since Lyons’ project constitutes a true maritime museum, it will also display other nautical gear such as ship’s lights and instruments, telegraphs, ships’ wheels, lights, pumps and ships’ figureheads.

What’s the helmet collection worth? Lyons doesn’t like to discuss value. Instead, he said, he would like the public to enjoy the collection “and not talk about value so much.”

The Lyons Maritime Museum is located at 9 King St., St. Augustine, Fla. 32084. Telephone (904) 825-0184. Admission will be $2.25 initially, according to Lyons.

Datebook

A collectibles show with heavy emphasis on nostalgia is scheduled for the Pasadena Exhibit Center, 300 E. Green St., over the weekend of June 2, 3.

More than 400 dealers from this country and abroad are expected, according to the organizer, Doug Wright Productions. Collectible exhibits will range from toys and advertising items to Disneyana and dolls. Admission: $5. For further information, call (213) 656-1266.